Thick-Walled Cylinders

and Press Fits

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 Stresses in Thick-Walled Cylinders

• Thick-Walled cylinders have

an average radius less than σr
po σl
20 times the wall thickness. ro
• They are pressurized ri
R σc
internally and/or externally.
pi
• The principal stresses are
circumferential (hoop) σc,
radial σr, and longitudinal
(axial) σl.

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 Circumferential & Radial Stresses
For the general case of both internal and external pressure, the
circumferential and radial stresses at radius R in the wall are:

ri pi − r po ± ( pi − po ) r r / R
2 2 2 2 2
σ = o i o
ro − ri
2 2 Eqns
10.20/10.22

Where the ± is: + for circumferential, and

- for radial stress.

For the special case of only internal pressure, po = 0, and the

stresses at radius R are:
ri pi 2
ro 
2
σ = 2 2 1 ± 2 
ro − ri  R  Eqns
10.23/10.24

The sign convention is the same.

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 Longitudinal Stresses
The longitudinal stress is simply given by a Force/Area, where
the Force is pi times the circular inside area πri2 , and the Area is
the annular area of the cylinder cross section, π( ro2 - ri2) , or:

pi ri 2
σl = 2 2 Un-numbered Equation

ro − ri
just below Eqn. 10.8

σr
po σl
This is generally only considered ro
for the case of internal
ri
pressurization ( po = 0). R σc
pi

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 Stresses vs. Radius
First, the easy observation: Radial stresses at the inner and
outer surfaces are equal to minus the pressurization.
• If a surface is unpressurized, the radial stress there is zero.
• If a surface is pressurized, the radial stress there = - p,
because it is in compression.

Now let’s look at an internally pressurized cylinder, and how the

radial and circumferential stresses vary across the wall thickness
at radius R.

ri 2 pi  ro2 
σ = 2 2 1 ± 2  Eqns

ro − ri  R 
10.23/10.24

( + is circumferential, - is radial )

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 Stresses for Internal Pressurization

16
HOOP STRESS
12

Stress (KSI)
8
4
0
-4
RADIAL STRESS
-8
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Radius (in.) ri2 pi  ro2 
Thick-Walled Cylinder with σ = 2 2 1 ± 2 
internal pressure of 5330 psi. ro − ri  R 
( + is hoop, - is radial )
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 Stresses vs. Radius - Internal Pressure
Radial stress is as predicted:
• -5330 psi at the inner, pressurized surface.
• 0 at the unpressurized outer surface.
Hoop stress is:
• Maximum at the inner surface, 13.9 ksi.
• Lower, but not zero, at the unpressurized outer surface, 8.5 ksi.
• Larger in magnitude than the radial stress

Longitudinal stress is (trust me):

• 4.3 ksi, considered as a uniform, average stress across the
thickness of the wall.

Now let’s look at an externally pressurized cylinder.

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 Stresses for External Pressurization

0
RADIAL STRESS
-2
-4
Stress (KSI)
-6
-8
-10
-12
HOOP STRESS
-14
-16
0 0.5 1 1.5
Radius (in.)
− ro2 po  ri2 
σ = 2 2 1 ± 2 
Thick-Walled Cylinder with ro − ri  R 
external pressure of 5330 psi.
( + is hoop, - is radial )
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 Stresses vs. Radius - External Pressure
Radial stress is as predicted:
• 0 at the unpressurized inner surface.
• -5330 psi at the outer, pressurized surface.
Hoop stress is:
• Minimum at the outer surface, -8.9 ksi.
• Maximum at the (unpressurized) inner surface, -14.2 ksi.
• Larger than the radial stress

Longitudinal stress is:

• Not usually considered for external pressurization.

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 Press Fits
In a press fit, the shaft is compressed and
the hub is expanded.
Before After
Radial
Hub interference, δr Hub

Shaft Shaft

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 Press Fits
Press fits, or interference fits, are similar
to pressurized cylinders in that the
placement of an oversized shaft in an
undersized hub results in a radial
pressure at the interface.
Hub

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 Characteristics of Press Fits
1) The shaft is compressed and Hub
the hub is expanded.
2) There are equal and opposite Shaft
pressures at the mating surfaces.
3) The relative amount of
compression and expansion
depends on the stiffness (elasticity
and geometry) of the two pieces.
4) The sum of the compression and the expansion
equals the interference introduced.
5) The critical stress location is usually the inner
diameter of the hub, where max tensile hoop stress
occurs.

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 Analysis of Press Fits
Start by finding the interface pressure.

p=
( )(
Eδ r  ro2 − R 2 R 2 − ri 2  ) Eqn 10.52,
rearranged

( 
)
ro
R  2 R ro − ri
2 2 2
 R
Where δr is the RADIAL ri
interference for hub and shaft of the
same material, with modulus of
elasticity, E.
If the shaft is solid, ri = 0 and

Eδ r  R2 
p= 1 − 2  Eqn 10.53,
2R  ro  rearranged

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 Analysis of Press Fits
Ei,ν i ro
If the shaft and hub are of different materials R
δr ri
p=
 ro2 + R 2  R  R 2 + ri 2 
+ν o  +  2 2 −ν i 
R
 2
 ro − R  Ei  R − ri
2 Eo,ν o
Eo 
Eqn 10.51, rearranged ν i,o = Poisson
Once we have the pressure, we can use the cylinder
equations to compute the hoop stresses at the interface.

ro2 + R 2 Eqn 10.45

A) The ID of the
σ oc =p 2
hub is tensile: ro − R 2
R 2 + ri 2 Eqn 10.49
B) The OD of the shaft
σi =− p 2 2 = -p if shaft is solid
is compressive: c R − ri
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 Strain Analysis of Press Fits
The press fit has no axial pressure, so σl = 0, and ro
it is a biaxial stress condition.
σc ν σr R
The circumferential strain
εc = − ri
E E
which equals the radial strain (because C = 2πr).
Because the radial change δ = R εr , we get
the increase in Inner Radius of the outer member (hub):

pR  ro2 + R 2 
δo =  2 +ν o  Eqn 10.46
Eo  ro − R 2

And the decrease in Outer Radius of the inner member (shaft):

pR  R 2 + ri 2 
δi = −  2 2 −ν i  Eqn 10.50
Ei  R − ri 

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 Notes on Press Fits
As a check, make sure that
F
δi + δ o = δ r
The assembly force required will be d = 2R
Fmax = πdLpµ
where p = the interface pressure L
µ = the coefficient of friction

The torque capacity available is

T = FR = RπdLpµ T
where R = the interference radius,
as before.

We conveniently know the interface

pressure for these equations!
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 Shrink Fits
If heating or cooling a part to achieve a shrink fit,
the required radial interference is:
∆R = δr = Rα∆T
where R is the interface radius
α is the coefficient of thermal expansion
∆T is the temperature change
To select an amount of interference see ANSI/ASME tables for
class FN1 (light) to FN5 (Heavy-drive) fits.
§ They give interference in 0.001" on diameter for a range of
diameters
Ex: FN4 for 0.95 to 1.19" diameter, interference = 1 to 2.3 mils on
diameter.

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